Taking in a show is sometimes a battle of wills as arts patrons jockey over the same nearby restaurants, the shortest bathroom queues and the most convenient “fairy princess” parking spaces near the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
But with a little planning, fans of the performing arts, whether they’re heading for this weekend’s opening of the Ellie Caulkins Opera house or a future show, can keep from feeling like permanent members of the “D List.”
We surveyed a few arts insiders for tips to cutting down on downtown hassle. Here’s what they had to offer:
In a bind for evening child care? The recently opened Family Flex Early Education Center in the Golden Triangle offers evening and weekend child care for parents who work late or just need a night out without the kids. Founder Marie Hueston is well-versed in the challenges of finding after- hours child care – one reason her business stays open until 11 p.m. Theater subscribers can get four hours of evening child care for $25, and regular ticket-holders receive 10 percent off. Call 303-571-1005 or visit familyflex.com for information.
The names of two Denver restaurants routinely surface when cocktail hounds chatter about downtown happy hour deals: Morton’s of Chicago and Tamayo. At Morton’s, “Girls Night Out” on Thursdays is the only time select martinis are $4. But, Monday through Friday, patrons seated in Morton’s bar 5:30-7 p.m. receive free filet mignon sandwiches – a great small dinner for people with someplace to be. And from 5-7 p.m. during the week, Tamayo pours complimentary tequila shots with each margarita, and dishes up tasty appetizer samplers.
You can bet on a long line of cars outside the Plex parking garage just before showtime. Skip that aggravation and head for the Colorado Convention Center parking garage. It’s rarely full, a pedestrian bridge connects the 1,000-space facility to the Plex, and rates ($7 on event nights) are comparable. Or you can survey prices and locations of various parking lots within walking distance of the Plex by using the interactive parking link at downtowndenver.com.
Here’s one for the ladies: When seeing a show at the Buell Theatre, forget waiting in line for the loo during intermission. Instead, dash over to the Galleria Theatre, where curtain times are earlier and intermissions rarely overlap.
The bar at the Galleria Theatre also has become the see-and-be-seen place before and after a show, especially because cast and crew members often head there to unwind.
To really feel like a theater insider, look for specials tailored to particular shows. For instance, big spenders interested in “Wicked” can buy tickets to the Sept. 16 opening-night gala that include orchestra seating and “Oz-mopolitans.” The price is $225 a head. Meanwhile, the budget-minded might try their luck at the new pre-show ticket lottery akin to the “rush ticket” system found in New York and other cities. Details at 303-446-4813 or denvercenter.org.
Staff writer Elana Ashanti Jefferson can be reached at 303-820-1957 or ejefferson@denverpost.com.
